The Issue of Translating Prophets’ Names: Preserving Original Qur’anic Forms

Abstract

The translation of the Qur’an into other languages presents numerous linguistic and theological challenges, particularly in the rendering of prophets’ names. These names carry significant religious, historical, and cultural meanings that are closely tied to the Arabic language of the Qur’an. In many English translations, translators sometimes replace the original Arabic names with their Biblical or Western equivalents in order to improve readability for a wider audience. However, such substitutions may weaken the connection between the translated text and the original Qur’anic terminology. This study examines the issue of translating prophets’ names in English translations of the Qur’an and evaluates different translation strategies used by modern translators. Through qualitative textual and comparative analysis of selected Qur’an translations and classical Islamic scholarship, the research explores the advantages and limitations of transliteration and translation approaches. The findings suggest that preserving the original Arabic forms of prophets’ names maintains theological accuracy, linguistic authenticity, and consistency with classical Islamic sources. The study concludes that a balanced approach—retaining Arabic names while providing explanatory equivalents where necessary—offers the most effective strategy for translating Qur’anic proper names.